United States v. Cooper

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States v. Cooper, 201 F. App'x 155 (4th Cir. 2006)

United States v. Cooper

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Jarrot A. Cooper appeals from his 360-month sentence imposed following the jury verdict finding him guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and conspiracy to carry fireanns during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes. On appeal, Cooper contends that the district court improperly calculated his guideline range based on acquitted conduct. We have previously found that a sentencing court may increase a defendant’s guideline range based on its factual findings, even if the jury acquitted the defendant of that conduct. See United States v. Martinez, 136 F.3d 972, 979 (4th Cir. 1998). Contrary to Cooper’s contentions, the Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), does not alter our previous holdings in this regard. See Booker, 543 U.S. at 233, 125 S.Ct. 738 (stating that the Sentencing Guidelines, if merely made advisory, would not violate the Sixth Amendment); see also United States v. Duncan, 400 F.3d 1297, 1304 (11th Cir.) (finding that “Booker does not suggest that the consideration of acquitted conduct violates the Sixth Amendment as long as the judge does not impose a sentence that exceeds what is authorized by *156 the jury verdict”), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 432, 163 L.Ed.2d 329 (2005). Accordingly, we affirm Cooper’s conviction. We grant Cooper’s motion to file a pro se supplemental brief but find the arguments raised therein to be merit-less. We dispense with oral argument, because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jarrot A. COOPER, Defendant-Appellant
Status
Unpublished